Gas control system



March 2, 1965 H. 1'. SPARRQW GAS CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 9, 1961 ii M HU BERT T. SPARROW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,171,468 GAS CQNTROL SYSTEM Hubert T. Sparrow, Edina, Minn., assignor to Honeywell Inc, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 9, 1961, Ser. No. 108,804 6 Claims. (Cl. 158-115) The present invention is directed to a gas burner control system for the eflicient utilization of a plurality of pilot gas flow rates, more specifically the present invention is directed to the use of a fluid amplifier for switching gas between two burners for efficient burning of the gas under widely varying flow rate conditions There is a class of gas control valves that are pilot operated and utilize a gas flow through the pilot operator for operation of the main valve member itself. Due to the construction of certain of these vaves, the gas used to operate the main valve is vented or emptied into the pilot gas line. This creates a varying flow of gas in the pilot gas line and creates a problem in the design and operation of the pilot burner. As a general rule, the pilot burners must be designed for a specific gas flow rate in order to burn the pilot gas eificiently. When the pilot gas flow rate varies due to the venting of the control gas of the valve into the pilot line, it is sometimes impossible to design a single pilot burner that will efficiently burn all of the varying volumes of available pilot gas. With this situation it is necessary to provide some way of varying the means for burning the pilot gas so that efficient operation can be obtained.

The present invention is directed to the use of a fluid amplifier in the pilot gas outlet line between the pilot gas outlet and the pilot burner. The fluid amplifier is a flow control device having no moving parts that is capable of switching a gas flow between two different outlets. In the present case, the fluid amplifier supplies gas at a low rate to the main pilot burner. Upon an increase of pilot gas being available due to the control gas being vented into the pilot line, the fluid amplifier switches and supplies part of the gas in the pilot line to the pilot burner and part of the gas to a second small burner. This division of the gas allows for eflicient and clean utilization of all of the gas flow in the pilot outlet line and is accomplished without involving any moving parts in the device. As such the device is foolproof and has long trouble-free operation. The fluid amplifier also can be built for a very nominal price and allows for straight-forward design of the pilot burners thereby eliminating the cost of complicated arrangements at the pilot burners themselves for the utilization of varying flow rates of gas.

It is the primary object, therefore, of the present invention to disclose a gas burner control system for the utilization of a plurality of gas flow rates wherein a fluid amplifier switches the gas between the main or first burner and a second burner so that the gas can be efllciently utilized.

It is a further object of the present invention to disclose a control system specifically adaptable for use with a manifold type of gas valve that has a varying internal control gas flow that is vented into the pilot gas line, and where this pilot gas is switched between two burners by a fluid amplifier having no moving parts.

Another object of the present invention is to disclose a highly simplified and very inexpensive means of disposing of varying flow rates to a pilot burner when the pilot burner is continuously operated as a means of igniting a main burner.

These and other objects will become apparent when the present drawing is considered along with its associated specification.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a manifold type gas valve of the pilot operated type which utilizes a fluid amplifier for switching between two burners thereby disposing of varying flow rates efiiciently;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of one particular fluid amplifier showing a low gas flow rate, and;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section of the same fluid amplifier as FIGURE 2 but showing the flow path at a high gas flow rate.

In FIGURE 1 there is schematically represented a complete gas burner control system that utilizes a inanifol-d type of gas valve generally disclosed at 10. The valve 113 has been blocked in by dotted lines and incorporates the normal functions of a manifold valve that are usually found in a single valve body or construction. For claritys sake the individual functions have been in turn broken down and shown in conventional schematic form. The valve 10 has a gas inlet pipe 1-1 that is connected to a pilot safety valve 12 of conventional construction. The valve 12 supplies a pilot gas line 13 with a continuous supply of gas through a restriction 14 so that the gas flowing in the pilot gas line 13 is nearly atmospheric in pressure. The pilot gas line 13 has an outlet at 15 from the manifold gas valve 10. Incorporated in the safety pilot valve 12 is a thermocouple operated safety pilot having thermocouple conductors 16 that extend to a thermocouple 17 of conventional construction. The main gas outlet of valve 12 is supplied to a pipe 20, that is in turn supplied to a main gas valve 21. The main gas valve 21 has inlet 22 and an outlet 23 with a valve 24 between the inlet and the outlet for control of the main gas flow. The valve 24- operates against valve seat 25 and is moved by a stem 26 that is mounted on a diaphragm 27. The diaphragm is supported by a spring 30 from a web 29. The valve structure described is a conventional diaphragm operated valve structure and its operation will be outlined in the present specification.

A control gas line 31 is connected to the valve 21 and has a continuous supply of gas to a thermostatically controlled valve 32. The thermostatically controlled valve 32 has a bellows 33 and a bulb 34 and tube 35 that are filled with a temperature expansive fluid. The bulb 34 senses a temperature to be controlled and supplies a varying pressure to a bellows 33 to open or close the valve 32 to allow gas into a pipe 36 to an upper chamber 37 of the valve 21. The gas supplied to the chamber 37 by the pipe 31, valve 3 2, and pipe 36 supplies a bias to the upper side of the bellows 2-7 to force the valve 24 open from its valve seat 25. This occurs whenever the valve 32 is opened.

The gas supplied to chamber 37 is vented by pipe 40 through an orifice 4d so that near an atmospheric pressure occurs in the outlet portion 42 of the vent pipe. The vent pipe is connected at 43 to the pilot gas line 13 and exists from the manifold valve 10 at the pilot gas outlet 15. The valve 21 has a main gas outlet pipe 44 that exists at 45 from the manifold valve 10 to the gas burner 46 of any convenient design. The pilot gas outlet 15 is connected to a fluid amplifier 50 which supplies pilot gas to a pilot burner 51 and a second burner 52. The details of the fluid amplifier 513 will be explained below but it is enough at this point to note that the fluid amplifier 5i) continuously supplies a gas from the outlet 15 to the burner 51 to maintain a continuous safety pilot for igniting burner 46 and heating thermocouple 17.

In order to better understand the function of the fluid amplifier 50. a description of operation of the unit disclosed in FIGURE 1 is believed necessary. Gas is supplied to pipe 11 and continuously is fed to the pilot outlet 15 by the valve 12. At all times when pilot gas is 3 r 7 available at ou'tlet15*it flows through the-fluid amplifier 59 to the pilot burner 51. When the pilot burner 51 has been ignited and is burning it heats thermocouple 17 which in turn supplies voltage to the conductor 16 to operate the safety pilot valve 12.. The safety pilot valve 12 supplies gas 'to pipe "20' and in turn to the valve 21.

The valve 21, shown in an Jopen'position allows gas flow to the pipe 44 and in turn to burner 46' which is ignited outlined-in the unit.

flow rate is indicated. The gas flows into pipe 55, which is connected to the outlet15 of the manifold valve 10.

by the pilot -51. The gas flowi'ngin pipe isalso sup-U plied to the pipe 31 tothe control valve 32:2ind to the.

upper side of the diaphragm 27. This control gas flows 1 through the pipe '40 and out of the outlet 15:10 the fluid amplifier '50; This gas flow is split in the fluid am-plifier 50 and flows both to the pilot 51 and to the secondary burner 52 where it is burned otfin an efficient manner.

If the bulb 3'4 senses a temperature which has been satisfied by. the heating effect of burning gas on the burner 46, the bulb causes the fluidfill co'ntainedtherein 4 I In'FIGURE 2 a relatively low gas The gas flow in pipe 55 flows through the notch 56 and through the hole '67. This gas flow, being relatively small in volume tends -to move upward into pipe 62' where it attaches to=the wallio'f the pipeby anvaction as described in the above referenced jpending applications. The gas flow through'itheforifice. 67 is aquite slight and follows through the hole ?'6-1 and joins in the. pipe 62 to flow to the. pilot burner-S-I. This is thevoperation ofthe.unit as it exists at relatively low gas flow rates.

In FIGURE 3 anin'creased gas flow rate to pi'pe 55 is shown. Thefl'ow rate still allows gas to flow through the nOtch-StS-and upwardly into the. manifold area above the notch 56; The. increased gas flowrate causes'an in- I ."c'r'easetl gas flo'w in the hole'r67 and-'formsa jet at 72 "that impinges on the side'of the gas flow' from the notch to expandand compress the bellows 33. The expansion of bellows 33 closes valve 32 thereby cutting off the flow of gas to the chamber 37. v The reduction in flow of gas to charnber ,37"reduces the pressure on thetop of the bellows 27, and the spring and the gas'pressure on the under side of the diaphragm 27' forces the diaphragm in van upward direction'closing the, valve -2 4' against the valve -seat25. This removes the gas from;

the burner 46 and also prevents gas flow from the chamber 37 to the pipe '40 and to the outlet 15 of the'p'ilot line.

As such the gas'available at the outlet 15 of the pilot gas line is reduced. I This reduction in gas is sensed by the fluid amplifier and the entire gas flow is then switched by the fluid amplifier 50 to the burner 51 wherea cone 7 At any time that the main valve 21 is opened through the opening'ofthe temperature control valve 32, an increase in gas flow in" tinuous safety burner remains lit.

the outlet 15 is sensed by the fluid amplifier and 'is ap propriately split between the burners Sland '52. C V 1 To the present point a description of operation of the fluid amplifier 50" has not been ,specifically'describd. The fluid amplifier 50 can be any one .of a number of typesof fluid amplifiers that are becoming quite cornmonly known. The fluid amplifier ,50' could be of a type disclosed in a patent issued, to Mr. BillyM.'I-Iorton on March 13, 1962, with number 3,024,805, or could be of the type disclosed in the Richard L'Reilly appli- 7 cation filed November 16, 1960, and assigned theSerial No. 69,645, now Patent No. 3,030,979, issued April 24;

1962. These two patents disclose various types of fluid amplifiers that can be used with the present device and the selection ofsthefluid amplifier is a matter 'of individ 56. This jet forces the gas flowing up throughthe notch 56 to move :zway from vtheiv lall 73; ofthe hole' 62 and.

over to the splitter 74 which is formedbetween the holes 1 62. and 63., The gas flowing up :through the notch 56 splits around the splitter-.74 with some of the gas-passing "up to the burner "51 while thererna'inder of the gaspasses up to the burner 52'. The unit is designed so that the gas flow up through 51 remains-thesame or close to the same -regardless of-whether it is the condition shown in FIG'UR'EZ or in the condition shown 'in FIGURE 3.

The hole '63 to the burner g5 2 drains off any excess gas and burns it eflicient-ly at burner 52. g

It will be'noted' that the fluid amplifier -50 disclosed in detail in FIGURES 2 andS has; no moving parts whatis continuously supplied with a gas flow so that a lcontinuous safety pilot is available for' igniting the burner "46 and ifor heating the thermocouple 17. Upon a deual choice. In order to completely disclose a fiuidfam- 'plifier system one particular ,type of fluid amplifieryis shown in FIGURES'2and3. In FIGURES 2'the amplifier is shown in the low fiow position wherein gas is supplied to burner 51 alone. In FIGURE 3 the amplifier is. shown in its'higher flow condition wherein the gas is split and is supplied to boththe'burners' s l 'and 5 2. 1

The fluid amplifier so is made of 'a' block pf fmetal 53 that has a hole 54' drilled straight through the blockb The hole 54 'has a, pipe '55 inserted in theh'ole, Thepipe is notched at 56 and is completely open at.5 7. The; end

of the hole 54is plugged at 60. 'A second hole 61 is some unnatural reason-w soever. The amplifier switches from the pilotburner 51 to the second burner SZ- nier'el-y based on the gas flow .rate entering pipe 55 which in 'tur-nis connected to the pilot outlet 15. It is thus obvious-that -aunit has been provided that can conveniently switch from one burner 'to two burnerswhenever'the gas -flow rate increases so that the .gas flow can i be economically and 'efliciently utilized in" the burner. It is' further noted that the pilot 'crease in gas in pipe-55,-the fluid amplifier 50 switches back tothe condition shown in FIGURE 2. l

The resulting featureof requiring but one pipe (from 15 to'55) to supply-both the normal-pilot gas flow and also tobl'eed on? the gasfrom'the top-diaphragm cham- The present-invention, as specifically disclosed in FIG- drilled adjacent tothe hole 54 and intersectsvtwo holes' 62 and 63 that are drilled into thetop of the block ,53

and whichrintersect the holes 61 and54. A plug 64" blocks the end of the holeg61jin a fluid tight'manner.

A threaded opening. 65 is provided with a screw/7 66' that varies the gas'flow' through an orifice 67 that is drilled in the wall70 thatsepar-ates'the holes'54'and 61.

The hole 67 is drilled through the threaded opening 65' prior to. the insertion of the screw66r 'To complete the supplied with 'acombustiblevgas-and having gas outlet to the 'holes'62 and 63; V

Itwill be noted that the fluid amplifier 5t) disclosed in FiGURES; 2 and 3 is identical'exceptfor the gasjflow URES lthrough 3, is only fa typical application of the principle of applying thefluid-amplifier to the varying 'gas flow rates in a {gas-burner control system. Since many possible combinations ofcvalve devices and fluid ampl-ifi'ers could be used. the applicant wishes to be 1irn- .ited' in the scope of the present invention by the appended claims.-

' I-clai'm as my invention'i; V

1. A "gas 'burnercontrol system 'for the utilization of a plurality of gas flow'rates including: gascontrol'means means; said gas outlet means normall'y 'suppliedwith at least one gas flow rate; fluid amplifier switching means wl ereina first gas 'flowis directed at'a' side' of a second gas iflow-with:-said flows connected to said gas outlet means and said amplifier means havingltwo outlets with each outlet 'connectedto a separate bu'rne r;fa first said burner being normally supplied with gas through said amplifier means to maintain a flame; and a second said burner adjacent to said first burner and ignited by said flame; said control means increasing the gas flow to said gas outlet means upon operation of said gas control means; said increased gas flow switching said fluid amplifier means to divide said gas flow between said two burners for eficient utilization of said gas.

2. A gas burner control system for the utilization of two gas flow rates including: gas control means supplied with a combustible gas and having gas outlet means; said gas outlet means normally supplied with at least one gas flow rate; a switching type fluid amplifier wherein a first gas flow is directed at a side of a second gas flow with said flows connected to said gas outlet means and said amplifier having two outlets with each outlet con nected to a separate burner; a first said burner being a pilot burner being normally supplied with gas through said amplifier to maintain a pilot flame; and a second burner adjacent to said pilot and ignited by said pilot flame; said control means increasing the gas flow to said gas outlet means upon operation of said gas control means; said increased gas flow switching said fluid amplifier to divide said gas flow between said pilot burner and said second burner for efiicient utilization of said gas.

3. A gas burner control system for the utilization of a plurality of pilot gas flow rates including: gas control means supplied with a combustible gas and having a main gas outlet and a pilot gas outlet; said pilot gas outlet normally supplied with at least one gas flow rate; a switching type fluid amplifier wherein a first gas flow is directed at a side of a second gas flow with said flows connected to said pilot gas outlet and said amplifier having two outlets with each outlet connected to a separate pilot burner; one said pilot burner being normally supplied with gas through said amplifier to maintain a pilot flame; and a main burner connected to said main gas outlet adjacent to said pilots and ignited by said pilot flame whenever said main gas outlet is supplied with gas by said control means; said control means increasing the gas flow to said pilot gas outlet whenever said main burner is supplied with gas; said increased pilot gas flow switching said fluid amplifier to divide said pilot gas flow between said two pilot burners for efiicient utilization of said pilot gas.

4. A gas burner control system for the utilization of a plurality of pilot gas flow rates including: a manifold gas valve supplied with a combustible gas and having a main gas outlet and a pilot gas outlet; some of said gas being used for control of said manifold valve and connected to said pilot gas outlet; said pilot gas outlet normally supplied with at least one gas flow rate; fluid amplifier divider means having no moving parts wherein a first gas flow is directed at a side of a second gas flow with said flows connected to said pilot gas outlet and said amplifier means having two outlets with each outlet connected to a separate burner; one said burner being a pilot burner and normally supplied with gas through said amplifier means to maintain a pilot flame; and a main burner connected to said main gas outlet adjacent to said pilot burner and ignited by said pilot flame whenever said main gas outlet is supplied with gas by said manifold valve; said manifold valve increasing the gas flow to said pilot gas outlet whenever said main burner is operated due to said control gas being added to the pilot gas; said increased pilot gas flow switching said fluid amplifier divider means to divide said pilot gas flow between the two burners connected to said amplifier means for efiicient utilization of said pilot gas.

5. A gas burner control system for the utilization of a plurality of gas flow rates including: gas control means supplied with a combustible gas and having gas outlet means; said gas outlet means normally supplied with at least one gas flow rate; fluid amplifier means having an inlet connected to said gas outlet means; said amplifier inlet manifolded to two outlets with each outlet connected to a separate burner; said amplifier inlet further connected to a restricted orifice directed at a side of said inlet; gas flow in said inlet normally flowing in a first of said outlets at low gas flow rates; gas flow in said inlet deflected to flow in both said outlets by a gas jet from said orifice at higher gas flow rates; a first said burner being normally supplied with gas through said amplifier means to maintain a flame; and a second said burner adjacent to said first burner and ignited by said flame; said control means increasing the gas flow to said gas outlet means upon operation of said gas control means; said increased gas flow switching said fluid amplifier means to divide said gas flow between said two burners for eflicient utilization of said gas.

6. A gas burner control system for the utilization of a plurality of gas flow rates including: a manifold gas valve supplied with a combustible gas and having a main gas outlet and a pilot gas outlet; said pilot gas outlet normally supplied with at least one gas flow rate; a fluid amplifier having an inlet connected to said pilot gas outlet; said amplifier inlet manifolded to two outlets with each outlet connected to a separate burner; said amplifier inlet further connected to a restricted orifice directed at a side of said inlet; gas flow in said inlet normally flowing in a first of said outlets at low gas flow rates; gas flow in said inlet deflected to flow in both said outlets by a gas jet from said orifice at higher gas flow rates; a first said burner being normally supplied with gas through said amplifier to maintain a flame; a second said burner adjacent to said first burner and ignited by said flame; and a main burner connected to said main gas outlet adjacent to said first burner and ignited by said flame whenever said main gas outlet is supplied with gas by said manifold valve; said manifold valve increasing the gas flow to said pilot gas outlet upon operation of said valve; said increased gas flow switching said fluid amplifier to divide said gas flow between said first and second burners for eificient utilization of said gas.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Terms, published by Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1960, page 9 relied on.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, IR., Examiner. 

1. A GAS BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE UTILIZATION OF A PLURALITY OF GAS FLOW RATES INCLUDING: GAS CONTROL MEANS SUPPLIED WITH A COMBUSTIBLE GAS AND HAVING GAS OUTLET MEANS; SAID GAS OUTLET MEANS NORMALLY SUPPLIED WITH AT LEAST ONE GAS FLOW RATE; FLUID AMPLIFIER SWITCHING MEANS WHEREIN A FIRST GAS FLOW IS DIRECTED AT A SIDE OF A SECOND GAS FLOW WITH SAID FLOWS CONNECTED TO SAID GAS OUTLET MEANS AND SAID AMPLIFIER MEANS HAVING TWO OUTLETS WITH EACH OUTLET CONNECTED TO A SEPARATE BURNER; A FIRST SAID BURNER BEING NORMALLY SUPPLIED WITH GAS THROUGH SAID AMPLIFIER MEANS TO MAINTAIN A FLAME; AND A SECOND SAID BURNER ADJACENT TO SAID FIRST BURNER AND IGNITED BY SAID FLAME; SAID CONTROL MEANS INCREASING THE GAS FLOW TO SAID GAS OUTLET MEANS UPON OPERATION OF SAID GAS CONTROL MEANS; SAID INCREASED GAS FLOW SWITCHING SAID FLUID AMPLIFIER MEANS TO DIVIDE SAID GAS FLOW BETWEEN SAID TWO BURNERS FOR EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF SAID GAS. 